Hullo. How are you? I hope you are having a good day. I’m Mark and I’m walking from Land’s End to John O’Groats…
I had a fairly substantial breakfast at Hayle before setting off along urban streets to Angarrack, where things became more normal again: fields, farms, streams and far reaching views.
With Hayle being a coastal town, today’s walk to Redruth was fairly consistently uphill, which brought some sights of canny engineering humanity has used to tame and reap the landscape.
The weather had changed completely overnight and the whole day was bathed in glorious sunshine, which makes for really pleasant walking. I love these early hints that spring is just around the corner.
Walking through some small hamlets, I encountered several times the traditional greeting from a stranger who hears from a random visitor to their tiny part of the world of a story of walking the entire length of Britain. The greeting is, of course, “rather you than me!”
Those words could be interpreted as dismissive, but in fact convey a sentiment along the lines: we do not know each other, but in this moment I want you to know I have warm feelings about you and wish you well.
The British can never say this, of course. British culture, like many cultures, has a long developed secret code, where words and meaning are often just passing acquaintances. I love this. I love British understatement and our avoidance of getting to the point. This drives my Polish friends crazy: why can’t you just say what you mean!
I passed through a very busy farm, with a huge fleet of machinery and people everywhere busy at work. The name sent my mind wandering to all the time I have spent with family in the South of France and, if it were not for the constant smell of cow manure, I could have cast myself there for a few brief moments.
At the next farm, I stopped for a while to chat to the landowner and troubled her for a top up of my water bottles. She reliably (or jokingly, I can’t be sure) assured me locals referred to Redruth simply as “Druth”, so I’ll try that out on some Druthers this evening.
Walking through Camborne, I passed a church with a long, winding queue of young women, which broke beyond the churchyard and continued along the busy high street. I stopped to ask one of the women what was happening and she told me today was the ‘baby clothes bank’, where parents could come along and receive free clothing for their little ones.
Walking further along the high street suggested Camborne is a town a little bit down on its luck, but, as ever, strangers were welcoming and interesting.
Leaving Camborne behind, I ventured back into the countryside.
Cornwall is, of course, the land of a great many ancient mines and one comes across some of these immediately upon leaving Camborne.
The final few miles were a flat and easy walk along a track with great views of Basset Monument and Carn Brea Castle.
I really enjoyed today’s walk, which was just shy of 11 miles. So, now I’m off to explore Redruth and meet some Druthers.
The Day 3 Vlog
Fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support
As I walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I am hoping to raise £10,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support, who do such a wonderful job of supporting families through the most difficult times. If you are able to spare any amount and would like to donate to MacMillan, please do so through my Just Giving Page.
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